What Type of Engine Oil Should Be Used in Winter?
4 Answers
In winter, use 5W30 engine oil. During winter, it's advisable to use engine oil with low viscosity as high viscosity can make it difficult to start the vehicle. In summer, 5W40 engine oil is generally used, which has higher viscosity and provides better lubrication protection for the vehicle. However, there are also all-season engine oils available, which are more convenient as they eliminate the need to switch between summer and winter oils. During winter, when temperatures are low, conventional engine oil can become semi-solid or semi-fluid, reducing its flowability. Lower quality oils may even stop flowing entirely. This means the oil takes longer to reach engine components to provide lubrication and protection, making the vehicle harder to start and increasing wear. Starting the vehicle immediately after ignition can cause dry friction, which over time can damage the cylinder walls, leading to abnormal engine noises, idle vibrations, and in severe cases, even oil burning.
When it comes to changing engine oil in winter, I helped my elderly neighbor with this last year. His decade-old Camry had trouble starting in cold weather. The key is to look at the number with W on the oil container, like 5W-30 or 0W-20. The smaller the number before W, the better the low-temperature fluidity – just like how 0W is most reliable in Heilongjiang's -30°C winters. I switched him to full synthetic 0W-30, and the next morning the tachometer stabilized much faster. If the oil is too thick, it won't pump properly when cold, causing dry friction that damages the engine. Also, avoid mixing different oil brands as residual old oil can form sludge. It's best to change before winter and have the mechanic check the battery health – these two are the golden winter prep combo.
As a veteran truck driver with 20 years of experience, engine oil selection in northern winters is crucial. Last year when driving a heavy truck to Harbin at -25°C, I was still using 15W-40 oil - the engine shook like crazy during cold starts. Immediately switched to 5W-40 diesel oil and it ran smoothly again. For private cars, 5W or 0W synthetic oil works fine - just check the owner's manual for recommended viscosity. One pitfall to note: Southern cars suddenly driven to Northeast China might have their factory 10W oil freeze solid. I once saw a tourist bus that couldn't start at Changbai Mountain until they poured hot water on the oil pan. Winter engine oil is like a down jacket - the thickness needs to be just right for both warmth and flexibility.
I just changed my Civic to winter engine oil. The mechanic said to focus on the first letter of the SAE rating, for example, 0W is more cold-resistant than 5W. Last year during the Beijing cold wave, I used 5W-30, and the car took three seconds to start in the morning. This year, I tried Mobil 1 0W-20, and it started instantly at minus ten degrees Celsius. Lower viscosity saves fuel and protects the engine, plus it heats up faster. But don't blindly chase low viscosity for older cars, as larger cylinder gaps can affect oil film strength. When choosing engine oil, remember to check the API certification—SN grade and above are better suited for direct-injection engines. Look for the ACEA C standard on the packaging, which is more friendly to the catalytic converter.
